No sparks from Starks

Published 4:00 am, Friday, January 29, 1999

SACRAMENTO - Streakiness comes as part of the package with John Starks. It's what makes him scintillating and infuriating at the same time, sometimes in the same quarter.

When Starks heats up, the whole arena has to shed a layer of clothing. He goes thermonuclear and elevates the team with him, a particularly useful trait on an offensively challenged squad like the Warriors.

But when Starks' shot is missing - oh, my!

And if his performance in Thursday night's 91-88 exhibition loss to the Kings did not quite evoke that interjection, it hardly warmed anyone's cockles.

His 4-for-14, seven-turnover night maybe should be brushed off as just a forgettable outing in a meaningless exhibition game. After all, he only joined the Warriors Sunday - the key figure going west in the Latrell Sprewell trade - and is still getting used to the idea of being in California, let alone playing for a noncontender.

"It's just a matter of getting my legs under me," said Starks, who played 28 minutes, tied for second-most on the team. "We've been out for a long time. I know there were a couple of times when I had the chance to go up strong and I wasn't able to explode. But it's coming. By the time we start the season I should be in rare form."

That would be a welcome sight for the Warriors, because Starks' bad outings may have a way of bringing down the whole team. Neither of the club's point guards, Bimbo Coles and Muggsy Bogues, is much of a scorer, which puts extra pressure on Starks to produce.

If he can't, opposing defenses will take liberties double-teaming the likes of Erick Dampier down low, as the Kings did repeatedly in Thursday's first exhibition of the preseason.

After watching his team struggle to score 30 points and shoot less than 28 percent in a first half that wasn't worth the price of admission - and the game was free - Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo said he wasn't concerned about the aim of his starting shooting guard.

"I think John when he gets good shots is going to knock them down," Carlesimo said. "I think he's more streaky when he gets going and just goes on one of those four-five-in-a-row runs. Streaky doesn't have to mean hills and valleys. It can mean maybe a little off."

In truth, both teams were off until the fourth quarter, when Corliss Williamson scored 13 of his 20 points to bring the Kings back from a nine-point deficit. The game remained nip-and-tuck until rookie Peja Stojakovic drilled two 3-pointers as part of an individual 8-0 run that lasted a mere 52 seconds, putting Sacramento ahead, 76-70, and swinging the momentum in its favor.

The Warriors stayed close mostly because of the efforts of the other two players involved in the Sprewell trade - Chris Mills (team-high 18 points) and Terry Cummings (16) - both of whom came off the bench.

So did rookie forward Antawn Jamison, who missed his only shot in 10 minutes. Jamison looked active if somewhat bewildered in his brief action, but said he felt more comfortable on the court than he expected.

"I think as far as my overall performance, I did pretty good, somewhere between a C and a B," Jamison said.

"Offensively things didn't go my way, but there are going to be nights when things don't, and there are going to be nights when you can't miss."

Starks knows all about those nights. This just wasn't one of them.

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NOTES: Donyell Marshall (scoreless in 20 minutes), Jason Caffey, Dampier, Starks and Coles started the game, but the lineup is bound to change for Saturday's exhibition at the Unchristened Arena in Oakland against these same Kings. . . . The Trail Blazers are holding their $1.75 million exception open for Warriors free agent Jim Jackson, who is not part of Golden State plans (except for a possible sign-and-trade deal). Portland would like to have Jackson as insurance in case something happens to Isaiah Rider - on or off the court - but the 6-foot-6 shooting guard is said to be looking for a bigger contract.&lt;

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